Improvement in ball-games



2 sheets-#shear E. A. BARRETT..

Improvement in BallV Games.

No.123,442. Paentedfeb. 6,1872'.

'MRT

- UNITED STATEs PATENT @Enron EDWARD A. BARRETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

- IMPROVEMENT IN BALL=GAMES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,442, dated February 6, 187'?.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Beit known that I, EDWARD A. BARRETT, of the United States Navy, at present residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ball-Games, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawingformin g part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a side elevation of what lterm a mathematical and pool table having my invention applied to it. Fig. 2 is a plan ofthe same; Fig. 3, a vertical section thereof in part; and Fig. 4, an interior of an indicating device or dial used in connection with said table and apf plicable to billiardtables generally;

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts throughout the several figures.

My invention consists, rst, in a novel cons struction of playing-table having pockets for the balls, asin billiard-tables, in which the pockets are masked by cushions; also, in which the play into the pockets is through holes in the table arranged to connect with the pockets by concealed conduits or tubular leaders. Fun thermore, the invention includes an indicating device or dial having quantities or marks upon it, which are used to control or change the play of the game, whether mathematical77 or pooh and which is applicable to billiard-tables generally. An account-board is also used to facilitate the calculations of the play, which by my invention calls into operation the exercise of skill, yet in a pool-game places the eX- pert and the novice upon an equal footing as regards success, and is, in this respect, a-blind game, developing both the physical and mental powers of the players and having an improving or arithmetical tendency, as well as being a source of amusement both to the players and bystanders or lockers-on.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the

"mathematical77 or pool table thus represented is preferably constructed either of a round or octagonal shape, to economize space, and may be leveled by any suitable arrangement of screws b appliedto its legs. Its pockets c, which are four or five, more or less, in number, are disposed in any desired positions around it, with an adequate space between them for the run or play of the balls, and are masked by cushions d. In the center of the table are holes e, corresponding in number with the pockets. These holes, which serveas inlets to the pockets, are connected with the latter by concealed conduits or tubular leaders j, said conduits being of any suitable construction. Over or in vicinity of each pocket is an indicating device or dial, S, used to control and change the play of the game. This device, which is applicable to billiard-tables generally, is composed of amovable dial, g, arranged within a fractional cylinder or `fixed boX, having a sight-hole init covered by a lid, h, which may, if desired, be under lock.` Said movable dial is preferably a rotating one, and maybe turned by a knob, t', to expose, on opening the lid h, certain varied marks or characters on its face. These marks or characters, which indicate and ch an geor control the play, may either be signs or letters having a particular signification; thus, as shown in the drawing, they may be (plus,) (minus,) X (multiplica-tiem) and (division) signs of the fundamental rules of arithmetic; or they may be letters having a conventional signification, as, for instance, A (for all,) T (for take,) N (for none,) D (for double up,) P (for put.) adjusted at will, according to the change required in the play, and so that any particular quantity or mark may be read oft' on opening the lid IL,- but during the game, if a pool one, the dials are kept masked or concealed bythe lids, so that the players may be kept ignorant of the adjustment.

The mathematical games are played as follows The balls are numbered from 0 to 9, more or less, and the dia-ls are adjusted over thepockets to any particular mark or sign. A choice of balls having been made, by cutting or otherwise, the lowest draw taking the lowest number of ball, and so on in succession, the balls are placed on their respective spots, No. l, who can play on any ball, taking the lead, and each succeeding higher number following in regular order. Supposing the dials to have been adjusted to the addition sign, then the players add the number of the balls carromed, pocketed, and the players on a plus 7 column of the account on the board. When the several sums thus recorded reach or surpass an amount previously agreed upon, the game will have result- The dials are moved or` ed in favor of the partybr parties who first reached or exceeded it. On adjusting the dials to the subtraction sign,-, then, the amount of ofthe game having been previously iixed, the sums of the balls carromed, pocketed, and .the players are deducted from the amount agreed uponfor the gaine and the remainder recorded on the minus column of the board. When, by successive subtractions, the amount of the game will have been canceled, the party or parties first reaching that end will have won. Supposing the dials to have been adjustedto the multiplication sign, and any desired amount fixed upon for the game, then the players take the numbers of the balls carromed and pocketed as the factors, and, multiplying them, enter their product under a multiplication (X) column. The party who iirst reaches the amount of the game is the winner. For division, adjust the dials to the division sign,1, and take the number of balls carromed upon and pocketed as a divisor and the snm specified as the game as dividend then divide, and place the quotient und er the division si gn,+,in the account-table, after which take that quotient as the next dividend, and so on till, by successive divisions, the amount agreed upon as gaine will have been canceled by one or more of the players.

A combination or compound gaine may likewise be played by adjusting the dials to indicate ditl'ereut mathematical signs over the several pockets, in which case the pockets alone should count, to prevent confusion. Wvhen the balls are pccketed in a plus pocket, add their number under the plus column of the account. It' the ball is pocketed in a minus pocket, subtract the sum of the balls from the amount agreed upon for game, and record accordingly. It' the ball is pocketed under the multiplication sign, take the ball played into and upon as factors and enter their product in the column ci' the account.

the balls to be pocketed in a division-marked pocket, then their sums should be taken as a divisor and the amount of the game asa div- Supposing idend, andthe quotient be placed under the division ('T) column of the table. When the sums of -1- and x will have attained or surpassed the amount of the game, the latter will have concluded in favor of the party or parties representing these signs; but if the amount of the game is previously canceled by the party or parties representing the signs and then they will be the winners.

For a pool7-game, the dial should be lettered, as hereinbefore described, and said dials be adjusted by disinterested parties and kept masked. The pool is then put up, and the playn ers draw, the lowest taking the lead. Accordingly as the balls are pocketed under the dials set to indica-te A, T, N, D, and l?, the player takes all the pool; will take out his own ball;

will leave the pool intact; all the players will double their deposit; or the players only put up a new deposit. This, however, is only one illustration, as the marks or signs inay be changed and the gaine be made capable of great versatility, such game in all cases being a blind one, and placing the novice and the expert on the same basis. A

What is here claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. The pockets c of the table masked by cushions, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the inlets e in the table, the pockets c, and concealed or covered conduits f, when the whole are arranged relatively to each other in a table, substantially as herein specified.

3. The combination, with a table for ballgames having pockets, of the indicating device or dial S, constructed and marked with mathematical signs, as described, for controlling and changing the pla-y of the gaine, substantially as specified.

E. A. BARRETT,

Conidi'. U. Ii. Witnesses:

FRED HAYNEs, R. E. .l-Annan. 

